The second government of Pedro Sánchez was formed on 13 January 2020, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 7 January and his swearing-in on 8 January, as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the November 2019 general election.[1] It succeeded the first Sánchez government and was the Government of Spain from 13 January 2020 to 21 November 2023, a total of 1,408 days, or 3 years, 10 months and 8 days.
The cabinet comprised members of the PSOE (including its sister party, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia, PSC) and Unidas Podemos—with the involvement of Podemos, United Left (IU), the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) and Catalonia in Common (CatComú)—as well as independents proposed by both parties, to become the first nationwide coalition government to be formed in Spain since the Second Spanish Republic.[2][3] It has been alternatively dubbed as the "progressive coalition" (Spanish: coalición progresista), after the name of the political agreement signed by PSOE and Unidas Podemos.[4][5] It was automatically dismissed on 24 July 2023 as a consequence of the 2023 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.[6][7]
At 22 ministries, it is the second largest cabinet in Spain since the country's transition to democracy, only behind the third Súarez government; the first time that a government includes four deputy prime ministers; and the third oldest government to be formed, with a median age of 54.2 upon its formation.[8][9] After the July 2021 cabinet reshuffle, the median age of the government lowered to 50, and the proportion of women at ministerial posts increased to 63.6% (14 out of 22).[10]
Sánchez's second government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:
The Council of Ministers is structured into the offices for the prime minister, the four deputy prime ministers, 22 ministries and the post of the spokesperson of the Government.[26][27][28][29] From July 2021, the Council would include only three deputy prime ministers.[30]
Pedro Sánchez's second government is organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure may vary depending on the ministerial department.[26][28]
Ministry of Financeand Civil Service(Ministerio de Hacienday Función Pública)(from 12 July 2021)
Ministry of Territorial Policy(Ministerio de Política Territorial)(from 12 July 2021)